170,000 Flock to Imsil's Okjeong Lake, Cheese Theme Park, and Pet Star During May Golden Week

From Flower Festivals to Culinary Tourism
Restaurants, Cafes, and Local Businesses Thrive

During the early May “golden week” of consecutive holidays, major tourist destinations in Imsil County, North Jeolla Province, saw a surge of visitors from across the country, bringing renewed vibrancy to local businesses. With the seasonal scenery of spring flowers at Okjeong Lake, cheese-making experiences, and a pet festival coinciding with holiday demand, nearly 170,000 tourists were recorded over the five-day period.

Photo by Imsil County Office

According to Imsil County on May 13, a total of 168,000 tourists visited during the holiday period from Labor Day on the 1st through Children's Day on the 5th. The “2026 Imsil N Pet Star” event drew 87,000 visitors, Imsil Cheese Theme Park welcomed 25,000, and the Okjeong Lake Suspension Bridge and Bungeo Island Ecological Park attracted approximately 56,000 visitors.

Imsil Cheese Theme Park, featuring European-style architecture and spring flower landscapes, bustled with families throughout the holidays. Many visitors enjoyed cheese-making activities with their children or spent time on the expansive lawns.

During the holiday period, total sales from restaurants, experience centers, and local specialty product stores within the theme park amounted to 270 million won. The increase in local specialty product consumption, alongside the rise in tourist numbers, was seen as a positive impact on the regional economy.

The influx of tourists also translated into higher sales for nearby businesses. In the Okjeong Lake area alone, sales of Imsil N Cheese and other dairy products reached 110 million won, while cafes, Korean beef restaurants, and spicy fish stew establishments all enjoyed the holiday boom.

The tourism fervor is expected to continue with the upcoming “Imsil N Rose Festival,” scheduled from May 28 to 31. County officials anticipate that the ongoing festival season in the first half of the year will further accelerate the increase in tourist numbers.

Once considered a “tourism wasteland,” Imsil County has rapidly boosted its profile over the past decade, centered on attractions such as the Cheese Theme Park, Okjeong Lake Suspension Bridge, and Osu Dog Park. There is particular analysis that the “tourism belt” strategy connecting these major sites has effectively promoted longer stays among visitors.

County Governor Sim Min stated, “May brings a succession of peony, poppy, and rose festivals, while hydrangeas reach their peak in June, so we plan to offer a variety of seasonal attractions throughout the year. We will continue to expand our tourism content to attract even more visitors to Imsil.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.